Two Paintsville police officers are on leave following Saturday’s shooting of a Salyersville man they suspected of stealing a motorcycle.
Paintsville’s Director of Public Safety tells WYMT one officer was on patrol when he spotted a bike he connected to a previous call of a stolen motorcycle.
He claims Shawn Gayheart got into a physical fight with him and after the officer tased him was able to run off.
When another officer arrived they tased him again, and pepper sprayed him, as he allegedly tried to get a gun from his jacket.
The Director says as the situation escalated they “had no other choice but to pull their weapons”.
He says Gayheart had a long criminal history and that a gun and knife were found on him.
Kentucky State Police are now running the investigation.